What passes for a preamble at this time of the morning: In 1999, a friend and backpacked around India in the mistaken belief (on my part) we were hippies. We arrived in Ahmedabad after 48 hours in the back of a jeep that bounced and bruised us sleeplessly over the desert. Tired, ratty and spoiling for a fight, we didn't take to the place and left as soon as we could. I wrote, in my somewhat pretentious diary, that it was "the most unfriendly place on earth".

It was a statement base on supposition, preconception and fear and is likely entirely inaccurate. Had I spent longer in town, I'm sure I would have come to have loved it. But I didn't. I high-tailed it to Bhavnagar.

I mention this not because my teenaged travelling is of interest but because it bears a parallel to England's travails. Turn up to the crease in Ahmedabad, freak out and go mad (Belly?) and you're out of there before you've had time to get the feel of the place. Take the time to stick around and soak in the atmosphere, and you might find yourselves on 111 without loss, thinking 'Bugger Bhavnagar, let's stick about'. Fortunately for England fans, that's just what Cook and Compton did last night.

Early news is that the pitch has apparently not fallen apart overnight, with the weather not being quite so hot as expected. So that's something for England, who will no doubt find themselves hoping to simply bat defensively for as much of the next two days as they can manage. Which reminds me - when was the last time you got yourselves into something hopeless?

Apparently Matt Prior was in the altogether moments before he was called into bat yesterday, not expecting those above him to crumble quite so ineptly. A desperate scramble for pads, clothes and dignity ensued. So, what's the least prepared you've been before an innings - we're talking string jockstrap, and rolled up newspaper as a thigh pad? Also, in honour of Jonathan Trott, we may as well hear catches that were given that you know you didn't take too.

39th over: England 111-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 74, Compton 34) Zaheer Khan opens proceedings coming over the wicket to Compton, with two slips waiting behind. His first three are sighters at or around the off stump, his fourth is a slower ball bowled out his knuckles which Compton blocks easily enough. An attempted yorker, with a touch of reverse, from around the wicket finishes a maiden. Nelson is is still on...

40th over: England 112-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 75, Compton 34) Ashwin bowls from the other end, his wobbley-armed run-up sending a series of well-pitched-up deliveries to in and around Cook's feet. The batmsan forces a single into the leg side to remove the prospect of Nelson striking. It's a noticeably less attacking field now, with just a short leg and slip in to Compton.

41st over: England 116-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 79, Compton 34) Cook chops Khan to the boundary. A full wide one outside off is not something Cook needs a second invitation for. He leaves the final ball of the over, which cut in from outside off and fizzed past his off stump.

"Re. getting into hopeless situations," emails a full and frank Harry Tuttle, at this time of the morning too. "The first time I had sex with my ex she cried. We stayed together for seven years."

42nd over: England 119-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 80, Compton 35) A silly point has come in for Compton now as Ashwin does the batsman with his other one, second ball. His third raps Compton on the pad, jagging back from well outside off but probably heading past the leg stump. Leg bye, followed by a couple of singles.

"Good morning Tom," chirps the unprepared Chris Bourne. "Not being a great cricketer, even at school, I was never very well prepared. But I suppose the nadir was coming out in suede hush puppies paired with one red and one yellow sock, on account of having to borrow boots, and discovering that nobody, but nobody, had feet as large as mine.

"Now that Hope is propping at the bar with her moth-eaten falsies and her come-hither pout, we are firmly into the jinx zone, so the least said about the match the better. It is, however, another opportunity for Ian Ronald to play a Significant Innings, as opposed to knocking off centuries at the fag end of a dead rubber. I hope we don't see him until tomorrow, though."

43rd over: England 120-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 80, Compton 36) Khan's not exactly roaring in, hurling the thing down at a lick under 80mph. But there is a suspicion of reverse, a whisper at this stage. Compton appears unperturbed and prods a sharp single to Yuvraj at point. Cook scraped home by an inch. A run out then wouldn't have been exactly ideal for England. Khan then brings one back sharply from outside off and, despite the fact it hits the bat first, Khan gives it a good appeal anyway.

44th over: England 123-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 82, Compton 37) Dhoni has just missed the simplest stumping. Compton came dancing down the wicket and was entirely beaten by the flight. Dhoni simply didn't react, the ball bouncing off him and harmlessly to leg. A shocker from the Indian captain.

45th over: England 123-0 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 82, Compton 37) Khan comes round the wicket to Compton and the batsman is late and beaten on the inside edge. Dhoni takes a tumbling catch behind. More than a whisper of reverse now. But then ...

WICKET! Compton 37 lbw Khan (England 123-1) Khan goes back to over the wicket and catches Compton full in front of the stumps. Slight question of whether it pitched outside leg but, no, the replays show that was fine. Dhoni must be breathing a sigh of relief after that missed stumping. Here comes Trott, on a pair.

46th over: England 127-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 86, Trott 0) That was a lovely ball from Zaheer Khan, pitching on leg and catching Compton low on the shin. Meanwhile, at the other end, Cook takes his life in his hands with a swished sweep. He gets four, while a miss would have had him out lbw.

"Along the lines of Trott and catches not taken," fibs Matthew, who has a good story anyway so what the hell. "I once managed to insert my foot into the front wheel of my bicycle and fly head over handlebars onto the pavement. Convinced my parents that the neighbour kid did it to me."

47th over: England 130-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 86, Trott 3) Trott gets off the mark first ball, with India trying to get him to play across his pad and either chip to a short midwicket or be caught lbw. Dhoni goes charging down the other end to have a word with Khan, who then bowls from very wide in the crease and around the wicket. Trott works him to leg again. Meanwhile Compton can surely take heart from that innings. He must never have faced anything as tricky as following on in India so to do so in his first Test - and to stick around so long - counts as a plus for him.

48th over: England 131-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 86, Trott 4) Ashwin, who got Trott in the first innings, continues. He has men around the bat - leg slip, slip, short leg and silly mid off. Trott pushes a single through the offside, driving from the rough - much to Ashwin's glee. The spinner comes over the wicket to Cook, landing the ball on his leg stump for the rest of a quiet over.

49th over: England 131-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 86, Trott 4) Trott plays straight and crisp and even to Khan, who has given up on his tactic of trying to get the batsman to play across his front pad. He does have a go at a couple of bouncers though, the first barely bouncing above waist height, the second whizzing harmlessly down the leg. Realising there's not much for him on length, Khan keeps changing his line of attack. He finishes the over by going round, always trying variations.

50th over: England 135-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 88, Trott 6) Cook and Trott rotate the strike nicely, with Ashwin attempting to get both of them driving outside off stump while he aims for the rough on either side.

51st over: England 137-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 88, Trott 8) First change of the morning and Ojha comes into the attack, Khan heading off to give his aching bones a break. Trott pushes a lazy flick to leg for two.

"I didn't find Ahmedabad to be unfriendly," emails Steve Mason. "Though I was mugged in the ground by a gang of locals in the 2001 Test. Surely New York is the unfriendliest place? They seem to pride themselves on it. Failing that, I've been beaten up in most places I've been to in Yorkshire." That might say more about you than them, Steve.

52nd over: England 138-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 89, Trott 8) You suspect Cook could not give a flying one about a ton, instead batting for the clock. He's nine away though, which has probably jinxed him to the hilt.

"Morning! On your subject of unpreparedednesses (?)" chirps Stephen Horner. "There's never an excuse for wearing loose boxer shorts to a cricket match yet I manage it at least twice a season. Of course I don't realise until I head out to bat; box goes in, box slides out. I find my innings then largely consists of shuffling around, one hand on my crotch turning down singles at every opportunity. I've learnt that if you stand very very still, you're safe. Next season, emergency tight pants are key." This might explain Inzy's entire career.

53rd over: England 143-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 90, Trott 12) Cook heads into the 90s with a chop to leg. Ojha is tempting Trott forward, his great barn door pads coming down the wicket like a great barn door coming down the wicket. He drops one short and wide, though, and Trott latches onto it with relief, thrashing the ball to the point boundary.

54th over: England 143-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 90, Trott 12) A little while ago, if you wanted two batsmen to play for your life, then these would be the two. While Cook is still Mr Reliable, Jonathan Trott's average has slumped to 32 in his last 15 Tests, from 64 in his first 20. Meanwhile, Cook blocks out an over from Ashwin with hardly a worry.

55th over: England 147-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 90, Trott 16) After a drinks break, Ojha continues. He's not finding the fizz he had in the first innings, the pitch having died somewhat. Trott is happy to push and prod until piercing the field with a an off drive for four. Meanwhile, Guatam Gambhir is not on the pitch having returned to Delhi after the death of his mother. He'll bat at No.7 if needed.

56th over: England 152-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 92, Trott 17) Ashwin bowls with slip, gully and silly point, attempting to force Cook into getting out the same way he did in the first innings - i.e. driving outside off and nicking to slip. Four singles from the over, including one from an attempted leggie so poorly disguised Ashwin may as well have yelled 'Leggie!' as he bowled it. Next, Dhoni manages to punch the ball past leg slip for a bye. "Hey! Blame the victim," howls Steve Mason, of 51st over fame.

57th over: England 156-1 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 96, Trott 17) Yadav comes on, with Ojha not finding much. Dhoni reverting to the chop and change tactic which worked so well in the first innings. It gives Cook something to think about for a moment, the ball arrowing in to the stumps at pace now. He waits for one to bounce onto his hips, then simply pushes it through the leg side for four. A perfect piece of timing.

WICKET! Trott 17 c Dhoni, b Ojha (England 156-2)Ah, Ojha was simply changing ends. He drifts one outside Trott's off stump, he pushes and edges to a ball turning away from him and Dhoni does the business behind the stumps. Here comes KP...

58th over: England 158-2 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 97, Pietersen 1) Pietersen sets off for his traditional helter-skelter, off-the-mark single. He'll be delighted to have come in to face a left-arm spinner of course. Trott made his 17 from 43 balls incidentally - exactly the sort of scoring rate necessary, only it would have been nice if it had been 170 from 430 balls, from England's perspective.

59th over: England 160-2 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 98, Pietersen 2) Cook squirts a thick edge to point for a single, moving inexorably towards that ton. It was a full, wide ball too - one that you might expect a more dashing batsman to fling the kitchen sink at. It's a credit to him that he didn't. Pietersen played the first innings as if he had firecrackers in his boots, leaping about all over the place, and survives an optimistic lbw appeal that had everything going for it apart from the fact it came off the middle of the bat. He mistimes a short ball to leg to scamper off strike again.

WICKET! Pietersen 2 b Ojha (England 160-3) Oh dear. A full ball on leg stump has KP groping forward for an unlikely sweep. He played down entirely the wrong line, the ball going right through him and bowling him round the legs. Here comes suicide's Ian Bell.

60th over: England 166-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 98, Bell 6) Bell prods forward at his first ball, edging safely to slip. That has to go down as an improvement. He follows it up with a sweetly timed four, driven through the covers. Which is much, much better than swaggering down the wicket and holing out to mid off. A neat two follows.

"Did we learn nothing from last winter?" barks John Goldstein, spittle flying. "Apparently not. It's not difficult is it? Two spinners and stop playing the bloody sweep shot."

61st over: England 168-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 100, Bell 6) Cook is in a bubble. Barring a disappointed flicker at both Trott and Pietersen's dismissals, it's just him and the clock out there. Despite this, he nicks safely to slip then works the ball to leg for two for his century. It's a stunning knock in the context of the game and he salutes it in very measured fashion, the job nothing like done yet. What powers of concentration. I know KP is anti-Cook but, still, he could do with some of his captain's mental stamina.

62nd over: England 168-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 100, Bell 6) Bell plays Ojha as if he's bowling him hand grenades. Which is as at it should be.

"Kevin must be one of the few batsman in the world who can be relied on to play the only shot that's likely to get him out against a left-hand spinner just because he thinks he can. And then gets out." says Chris Bourne. "I am now deeply sorry for my suggestion that it might be nice if we didn't see Ian Ronald until tomorrow."

63rd over: England 173-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 101, Bell 10) Cook continues as he has done all morning, solid, quiet and focused. Bell then clumps a wide ball elegantly to the third man boundary. He survives an appeal for caught behind - there was certainly a noise but it appears to have come off either thigh pad or box. Fortunately he's not Stephen Horner of the 52nd over. Next, he leaves one outside off that cuts back and misses the stumps by a whisker. Looking at the replay of the KP dismissal, it's impossible to know what he was thinking. Clearly it was a premeditated shot that he played to completely the wrong ball. Has the man got no defence at all?

64th over: England 174-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 102, Bell 10) Ojha tosses it up outside off to Cook and he spends the over either leaving or smothering the spin. He clips a lazy single to mid on to complete the over.

65th over: England 178-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 106, Bell 10) Cook times a leg-side flick to the deep midwicket boundary beautifully. He could bat all year at this rate. Dhoni suspects as much too and tells his slips to do one. Then, just as I type that, Yadav strikes him on the shin just outside the line of the off stump. That was close.

66th over: England 178-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 106, Bell 10) Bell continues to play Ojha with the same caution. If he was chucking snakes at him, he'd hardly be more careful.

"Following on, no pun intended, from Stephen's predicament (52nd over), here's one of Ganguly's cheeky secrets," emails Toby from Calcutta. "Which explains that despite his run of form he has never made a run of form."

67th over: England 178-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 106, Bell 10) Ashwin is back on, and Dhoni has surrounded the bat again. Cook is watchful, resisting the urge to play against the spin.

68th over: England 178-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 106, Bell 10) Ojha drops one just outside Bell's off stump. He couldn't leave it but didn't want to play it either. He's lucky to miss it in the end, the ball turning just past his outside edge. Two balls later Ojha bowls him another beauty which clips on the back pad and might have been given by another umpire. Fantastic over from Ojha, who is finding a bit of bounce.

"Thinking about it, we may be treating KP with undue harshness," reckons that man Chris Bourne again. "Perhaps playing a full part in the traditional middle order batting collapse is a necessary part of his reintegration process?"

69th over: England 182-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 109, Bell 11) The first runs for three overs come when Cook clonks a full toss from Ashwin to leg. A push to leg from Bell keeps things ticking over. That Bell lbw shout in the last over looked as though it just pitched outside leg, fortunately for him something that was spotted by Aleem Dar. With that over done, should come lunch.

A thought to leave you on, while your OBO correspondent has a lie down and some breakfast: "Is it possible to clone Cook?" emails Kevin O'Rourke, somewhat smugly on the deck with a glass of wine in Sydney. "Maybe we could get the Skelmersdale and Bassenthwaite crochet circle to knit some more for the next test. I reckon with Captain Cook and three pearl and plain cross stitched clones we stand a chance. We could use the wool in KPs and Bells skull; plentiful supply apparently unstressed." If they could knock up a Paul Collingwood while they're at it, we could airdrop him in at six and relax for the next day and a half.

Housekeeping dept: I'm grateful to Uthra Ganesan who clarifies: "It's not Ghambir's mother, it's his grandmother who has passed away. He was closest to her, grew up at her place." While Rohit Negi tweets to say "In India, the Test must compete today with 1) the funeral of politician Thackeray; and 2) shootout death of a famed mafia don." Yikes.

A stat I missed, so sue me*: Cook's century makes him the first Test captain to score three hundreds in his first three Tests as captain.

* Don't sue me.

The umpires are back out, as are the India fielders. The home side still have a strangehold on this game, with England still a long way off the pace, trailing by 148. Can Bell stay with his skipper for the afternoon? Let's find out.

70th over: England 182-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 109, Bell 11) Ojha continues, three wickets shy of a 10-wicket haul. Bell manages not to dance down the wicket and chip his first ball down Tendulkar's throat. Good, good. He does cut a pitched-up ball on middle stump though, less convincingly, before offering his bat uncertainly at a slower ball that nips past the edge.

71st over: England 183-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 110, Bell 11) Zaheer Khan bowls from the other end and it's a credit to his nous that he's getting the ball to reverse a touch. This is surely one of the greenest outfields ever seen in India - a ploy to blunt the England seamers? - but Zaheer is still finding movement. Cook blocks, leaves and becalms him before clipping the ball to leg for a single.

72nd over: England 183-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 110, Bell 11) An immediate change of bowling, Ashwin comes on for Ojha. He bowls a full length to Cook as the batsman steps out and smothers him. Nasser Hussain thinks he's bowling too full on Sky and, certainly when he drops one a shade shorter, Cook looks less sure of himself. Still, that's another maiden safely navigated. Hold onto your hats, this is what we're in for now.

73rd over: England 185-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 111, Bell 12) Zaheer is varying his line, and his line of attack, coming from around the wicket and both wide of the crease and close to the stumps. He's chucking the thing down at an average of 80mph. Bell nudges a single off his hip, then Cook works another sharp one to go to a personal Nelson.

74th over: England 186-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 112, Bell 13) Ashwin continues and Cook nurdles a single to get off Nelson. Bell watchfully plays out much of the rest of the over, picking the carrom ball while he's at it. India are waiting for the new ball here, as this one is dead.

75th over: England 191-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 113, Bell 16) They've just pointed out on Sky that India haven't had their two seamers operating in tandem so far in this Test. England have three of them. Good old England. Zaheer meanwhile is just marking time until the spinners can get at the new ball. They do things differently here. Not that England appear to have noticed.

76th over: England 196-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 114, Bell 20) Dhoni shuffles his pack again, and Ojha returns. Cook works a single and decides he may as well run it, despite the fact he clearly couldn't give two monkeys for the score. Bell can't resist cutting a loose ball to the point boundary, but largely his has been a very watchful innings of 20 from 52. In marked contrast to his first 'innings'.

77th over: England 199-3 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 115, Bell 22) Yadav is on now, who knows who'll be bowling the next over. Could be anyone at this point, the way Dhoni is rotating things. Bell punches a back foot defensive shot down the ground and damn near gets four for it - much to his surprise. But then...

WICKET! Bell 22 lbw Yadav (England 199-4): Yadav swings one in from outside off and it clumps Bell full on the pad. Was it doing a bit much? Possibly not. It certainly moved a fair bit in the air but was probably going to clip leg stump. He's not entirely made up for yesterday there. Bloody Ian Bell.

WICKET! Patel 0 lbw Yadav (England 199-5): See entry for Bell dismissal. Patel goes first ball. Actually he has had another bad one, that swung in from way outside off and was almost certainly heading down the leg side. It was full and fast but England are in trouble. Well, England are in more trouble.

78th over: England 200-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 116, Prior 0) The 200 finally comes up, England are just the 130 behind with five wickets remaining. The replay suggests Patel also got a faint inside edge onto that, he walked off with a right old funk on.

79th over: England 201-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 117, Prior 0) Yadav's hat-trick delivery is left well alone by Cook. The rest of the over is treated with suspicion too. Excellent over, two from it.

"At what stage does Bell start to earn his redemption?" asks Phil Withall. "Having turned into an apoplectic Daily Mail reader yesterday I was wondering when I can start being a touchy feely Guardian reader again. Oh there's my answer now, such timing. Six to eight months it is then."

80th over: England 206-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 122, Prior 0) Cook cuts Ojha elegantly for four, then works a single. Prior attempts to play with trademark positivity. For no runs but one or two heart flutters as yet.

"I now understand England's strategy," reckons Chris Bourne. "By contiving to lose three wickets to pace bowlers we are trying to convince the Indians to play only one spinner in the next three matches. This will not make any difference to our ability to get out to any form of bowling on the sub-continent, but will at least vindicate the Flowers Doctrine. We've got them where we want them, obviously."

81st over: England 212-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 122, Prior 5) England run a bye to a Dhoni mistake as Yadav continues with the old ball, then Prior latches onto some Yadav width to put away a crisp cut for four. Cook completes the over by edging one short of the one wide slip. Here's a stat: India's strike rate with pace is 55.4 and England's is 420. Good grief.

Here's Iain Ruck on a tale of being unprepared: "When we hosted a Yorkshire touring team in a match about 10 years ago. Needing 1 run to win, I headed for the shower knowing that I wasn't going to bat. Our captain, trying to stymie my early bolt for the bar, suggested that I had better not as I may still be needed if 3 more wickets fell. 'I will bat in my pants if needs be,' I replied, failing to realise that our middle order was as secure as England's in their first innings and was soon taking my guard outside of leg stump."

83rd over: England 224-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 122, Prior 17) Yadav angles the ball into Prior's feet, and he tickles an inside edge to the fine leg boundary. It prompts India to take the new ball a couple of deliveries later, the harder cherry being something Prior might well prefer. In fact, he does - clobbering a wide ball to point for another boundary. Still, for England to post a target they can defend here, they probably need to bat until tea tomorrow. Can anyone else see that happening? With that, let's have a drinks break.

84th over: England 225-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 122, Prior 17) Ojha takes up the new ball from the other end and loops and flights it to Prior. He has an almighty hoick at his third, misses completely and the turn take the ball past slip. Prior leaves the next delivery and leaves Dhoni to to do the rest - his ineptness behind the stumps continues and allows a bye.

85th over: England 229-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 124, Prior 19) A crisp clip off the pads earns Prior a single from Yadav's first ball. Later in the over, he carves another attacking stroke to cover. It is lovely to see someone play with confidence and positivity rather than appear cowed by what is, in all honesty, only a decent attack.

86th over: England 230-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 125, Prior 19) Ashwin, wicketless in this innings, replaces Ojha and Cook cuts him for a single. Prior blocks him for the rest of the over, putting pay to what I said in the last over.

87th over: England 234-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 126, Prior 22) Zaheer Khan is on now, the Dhoni revolving door policy to his bowlers continuing apace. Cook cuts him for one, before Prior bottom edges a wide ball into the ground and behind into Dhoni's gloves. He makes up for it by driving expansively next up for two. Next, he survives an impassioned lbw shout by the crafty tactic of edging the ball onto his pads. Just the 96 behind now. Nearly there lads, you can do it. Etc.

88th over: England 240-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 127, Prior 27) Ashwin whistles an off-spinner past the edge of Cook's bat, the England captain letting his concentration slip for a nanosecond. Prior then goes back into positive mode, lofting a leg whallop over the field for four.

"What I don't understand is this continued panic against spin," emails someone called both Chris and Kate Evans. "I reckon a problem lies because the coaches, Flower and Gooch and England's more successful players of spin, Tresco and Thorpe were all sweepers. Post DRS you can't play like they did. Miss and hit on the pad and you're gone, whereas you'd have been safe before.

"I wish the players (probably those on the fringes of the test squad) themselves would spend an entire winter in India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka playing at the highest level they can and learn to play spin properly."

89th over: England 244-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 129, Prior 29) Thinking about it, Chris and Kate Evans, there hasn't been too much sweeping today. Only Pietersen really - who was rightly bowled for his efforts - and one that I can remember from Cook. Perhaps lessons have been learned? Four from the over despite a disciplined line from Khan.

90th over: England 250-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 130, Prior 34) Cook appears not to have broken sweat yet, he could be on the village green in late June so unflustered does he look. This really has been a sensational innings. At the other end, Prior continues his good Test too. He carves Ojha (I've stopped keeping track of these bowling changes) for a four that goes right through Zaheer Khan at point. Dhoni is in a kind of inertia at the moment, setting a defensive field as he seems to be hoping the game will just do the decent thing and die.

91st over: England 253-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 131, Prior 36) Ashwin comes on at the other end now, replacing Khan. He has figures of 28o 82r 6m 0w before this over, which is something of a surprise. He's mixing his pace to Prior, but you can't help but feel he'd be better floating it outside the off stump to tempt the England man into a hoick. Instead, Prior scampers through for two after nurdling to leg. Ashwin's last of the over is exactly the tempter outside off required and it unsettles Prior.

"I recall one occasion when, waiting to bat, I was having my usual fag (I've given up tobacco now, this was ages ago), walked out and tossed the ciggy away, faced one ball, which was a massive inswinger and bowled me through the gate, walked back, paused for a chat with the next batsman, and found my ciggy still alight. Finished it. There's more than one way to be unprepared," emails John Starbuck.

92nd over: England 254-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 132, Prior 36) Ojha continues, running across the umpire and bowling from very wide of the crease. He tempts Prior outside off, and he carves thin air dangerously. That ball missed the stumps by an inch.

93rd over: England 256-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 133, Prior 37) Ashwin sneaks one past Prior's outside edge and Dhoni whips his bails off. His feet are well within the crease though. He then sweeps for what I think is the first time, pouring cold water on his head immediately after to remind him not to. Bumble is talking about One Direction, N Dubz, Frank Zappa and Zoot Money on Sky. Even in a booth in Isleworth, the heat is getting to people.

94th over: England 258-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 134, Prior 38) Ojha lobs the ball outside off and Prior edges to first slip. It drops just short. Lucky from Prior. Two singles from the over.

95th over: England 260-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 135, Prior 39) Prior sweeps hard into the man at short leg. He comes up smiling. Another couple of singles from Ashwin's over.

"A quick question for you Tom. The lucky soul that has to get up for the first session tomorrow. Will they be sat hoping the Indians wrap this up today so they get a lie in or will they be patriotically willing England on even at the expense of sleep?" asks Phil Withall. I happen to be that lucky soul, Phil, and I'm having quite the debate with myself about it. On the one hand, this is a losing cause. On the other ... could they? Well, no, obviously. But we can hope.

96th over: England 261-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 135, Prior 40) Prior edges onto his pad, which doesn't stop Ojha going up for a big lbw shout. Next ball, he sends down a tempting full toss but Prior picks out a fielder, much to his annoyance. With no DRS in operation, Prior then props forward, hiding his bat behind his pad and, lets the ball hit him. In your face BCCI.

97th over: England 261-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 135, Prior 40) Prior sweeps but is rapped on the pads in front of his stumps. Umpire Tony Hill reckons he's just outside the line. On DRS, that might have been given. In your face again BCCI. He sweeps again and is hit again in front of his stumps. He's definitely outside the line this time.

98th over: England 262-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 136, Prior 40) Ojha is coming round the wicket to Cook, who wouldn't care if he was coming in from square leg, so unbothered does he look. He's bowling remarkably slowly too, 45mph, and the England captain works him for a lazy single. Prior then has another swipe outside the off stump, he's living dangerously at the moment.

99th over: England 264-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 138, Prior 40) Cook edges Ashwin to first slip, the ball doesn't even get halfway to Sehwag before dying on the ground. This pitch has no life in it whatsoever. Cook cleaves a couple to Harbhajan, the sub fielder, in deep cover as if he cares about runs now.

100th over: England 264-5 (need 330 to avoid an innings defeat; Cook 138, Prior 40) Prior is more watchful against Ojha, seeing out the last over before tea with caution. Still, the ball kicks up from the rough, bounces off his pads and clips his gloves, prompting a diving effort at silly point that just goes down.

Two wickets and not many runs from the session but it could be enough to ensure England take this Test into the fifth day. Join Rob Smyth for the rest of today's play. Thanks for all your emails.

TEA

Morning. England are in serious danger of clutching honour from the jaws of ignominy. They will still lose this game, but the performances of Matt Prior and particularly Alastair Cook, two thoroughly admirable cricketers, means they should avert the innings defeat on which you'd have staked your house 24 hours ago. England will resume on 264 for five, a deficit of 66, with Cook on 138 and Prior on 40.

Bright ideas department With such an early start, I thought it'd be a good idea to have a shower at work instead of at home. The flat's a bit cold at that hour, and the showers here are lovely: power showers, a zesty early-morning treat. What I didn't bank on what the shower hose going doolally and spraying water high in the air and all over my trousers, the left leg of which is now wet through. So I have two options: sit in the office in Y-fronts and get a P45, or sit in the office in trousers and get pneumonia. Any advice? All together now, bom bom bom …

Matt Prior would get in an all-time England XI. Discuss I'd still go for Alan Knott, because of catches like this, but Prior really is a gem of a cricketer, surely the finest in England right now.

101st over: England 266-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 139, Prior 41) Zaheer Khan starts after tea. The new ball is around 20 overs old, so there's no real sign of reverse swing. Just two singles from the over.

"Trousers excuse" is the subject of Paul King's email. "That old chestnut? Come off it mate…" There's not enough Volvic in the world to make this mess.

102nd over: England 271-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 139, Prior 46) So much for starting a session with your best bowlers. MS Dhoni does things differently, and he's given the ball to Yuvraj Singh. Matt Prior slices a drive in the air but safely wide of point for a couple.

"Go for the wet trousers, obviously," says John Starbuck. "You'll steam a bit and everyone will therefore give you a wide berth, but this is all good practice for the indignities of later life." The indignities of now life are quite enough.

"Not tempted to pop down to American Apparel at the brand spanking new Kings Cross station and pick up a pair of skinny trousers, perhaps in a fetching luminous yellow?" says James Robinson. "If you're too tight to pay for a haircut perhaps not but thought I'd throw it out there." I was thinking of going down at 11am when this finishes but I'll have died of pneumonia and/or indignity by then. Also, is "too tight to pay for a haircut" a new euphemism for baldness?

104th over: England 280-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 143, Prior 51) Prior sweeps Yuvraj for two to reach a superb fifty, from 110 balls and with five fours. He is so good at adapting to conditions and the match situation and this has been a very careful innings. It's in keeping with his career: Prior's Test strike rate is 48 in Asia and 70 in England –

"Is it really a sackable offence to work in your underwear at the Guardian?" says Robin Hazlehurst. "I'm surprised, I thought you were all liberal and open-minded and tolerant. Or are your smalls so particularly offensive that they breach other regulations like health and safety or do have intolerant un-guardianista cartoons on them? And why I am spending my Sunday morning visualising Rob Smyth in his pants? I really wish I hadn't started this now..." What?

105th over: England 285-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 148, Prior 51) Cook reaches outside off stump to time Zaheer classily through extra cover for four. Where does he get the physical and particularly mental strength to play an innings like this? He's been on the field for all bar 35 overs of the match.

"I'd go for Knott as England keeper too – not just a better keeper (THE best) but a far better batsman than his stats indicate," says Steve Hudson. "Most of his runs were made when it mattered, and against both Indian spin in India and the fastest Aussie and Windies bowlers too. For instance Perth 1974-5 and Bangalore 1976-77, both innings only a genius could play." Indeed. Selve argues, rightly I think, that if he were playing today Knott would probably average over 40 rather than 32.75. Expectations of a keeper were completely different Before Gilchrist.

106th over: England 288-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 151, Prior 51) Cook cuts Yuvraj for two to reach a monumental 150. What a staggering performance. It's his sixth 150-plus score in Tests; in the context, however, it doesn't feel remotely adequate to call this a Daddy hundred. The most impressive thing is how fresh he looks. He celebrates with a gentle raise of the bat, nothing more than that. There's more work to be done. He's a batting addict.

108th over: England 292-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 152, Prior 51) Cook and Prior look extremely comfortable. We know how these things work, though: one wicket falls and then the new batsman is eaten alive before he can get his eye in.

"I would struggle to find Prior a place on the grounds that if you want a pure gloveman to go in at 7 below Botham then you of course have to pick Knott (Russell as reserve)," says Phil Russell. "If you are after a wicketkeeper-batsman however, then for me Prior has to take second place to Her Majesty's Alec Stewart. 8,000 runs at a touch under 40, 15 tons and here's a quick clip of some impressively subtle sledging from behind the stumps v Zimbabwe." The Gaffer was a glorious opener, and a very good keeper, but his batting average as keeper was only 34.92, well down on Prior (whose moral average is even higher, given how many times he throws away his wicket for the team). Having said that, the Gaffer played in an era of great bowlers. Either way, there's a very good chance we will remember Matt Prior as a great rather than a very good player.

109th over: England 296-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 156, Prior 51) The impressive Yadav returns to the attack. He's a big unit in the flattering sense of the phrase; in fact his upper body is like that of the Incredible Hulk. He digs in a short ball to Cook, who whirls an emphatic pull round the corner for four. We've said it a few times before but it's worth repeating: he is going to obliterate every English Test batting record in the book.

"So what target's safe to set India to save the game?" says Calum Loudon. "10? 20? 600ish?" Not sure about the target, although England would probably have to bat until just before tea tomorrow to save the game. But like the man said: don't get any big ideas, they're not gonna happen.

110th over: England 302-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 158, Prior 58) Ojha replaces the ineffective Yuvraj. His first ball is way too short and Prior flicks it almost daintily through midwicket. That brings up the hundred partnership and England's 300.

111th over: England 306-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 160, Prior 60) You're thinking it, aren't you? You're thinking if these two get through to the close and then get their eye in tomorrow morning.... You are an idiot.

After one over from Yadav, MS Dhoni has gone back to R Ashwin, who hasn't taken a wicket in his last 40-odd overs. Four low-risk singles continue England's disconcertingly serene progress.

"So the game plan is patently for England crawl to a lead of a 150 or so by lunch tomorrow, couple of overs of quickish to get the shine off the new ball and then our double spin attack steam through," says John Tumbridge. "Oh..."

112th over: England 306-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 160, Prior 60) Prior is beaten by a gorgeous, seductive delivery from Ojha that dips in and then snaps past the edge. Beautiful bowling.

"After day one, to claim that England were right to leave out Monty wastantamount to walking around the village in an old straw hat sucking a stalk ofgrass," says Gary Naylor. "But the pitch readers know nothing at all do they? (As I rather enjoyed claiming here.) All the debate will focus on the balance of the bowling attack (which did fail) but England are losing this match because of the upper order – change them."

113th over: England 306-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 160, Prior 60) Cook, trying to cut Ashwin, is beaten by some sharp bounce. Two false strokes in as many overs, after an hour of untroubled progress. With Ojha and Ashwin on, and with the close an hour, this passage of play may well decide the match. If England are to have any chance of survival they cannot afford to lose a wicket tonight.

"Morning Rob, the chat about wicketkeepers, and the fact that it's you in the hot seat, has got me thinking," says Luke Dealtry. "Who is the Martin McCague of England keepers? You know – the one who'll go down as being really, really, really bad. I mean beguilingly bad, bewitchingly bad, McCague bad." I suppose in modern times it would be poor old Richard Blakey, who suffered death by flipper in India in 1992-93. He was actually a very good player, and anyway he redeemed himself by naming his autobiography 'Taking it from Behind'.

114th over: England 307-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 160, Prior 61) "I feel your pain on the damp trousers," says Stuart Wilson. "I went to a wedding last year wearing light coloured trousers. I popped to the toilet and an over excitable tap sprayed a tidal wave of water all down the front of my trousers. After unsuccessfully trying to limbo my crotch under the hand dryer I had to take my jacket off and carry it in a rather camp fashion as a cover up for the next few hours until it dried." They're almost dry now, although the pneumonia's in the post.

115th over: England 313-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 160, Prior 65) Ashwin is bowling pretty straight to Prior, perhaps setting him up for the carrom ball. It doesn't come in that over though, and a low full toss is patted down the ground for four. That takes Prior to 65 and England to within 17 of making India bat again.

116th over: England 314-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 161, Prior 65) India's players sit on the outfield during the drinks break. It would be overstating it to say that Cook has broken their will, but they do look a little weary. Mind you, that should energise them: the first ball after the drinks break, from Ojha, bounces grotesquely to hit Cook on the body. Cook has been able to shoulder arms because of the line of the ball; a good thing too, because if he had played a shot he'd have been in trouble. Three balls later Prior survives a huge shout for LBW. I think Aleem Dar thought there was an inside edge but in fact it was pad first, a split second before bat, and it straightened enough to have hit middle halfway up. That should have been out. India's refusal to use DRS looks more ludicrous with every passing appeal.

"I have a pair of blue chinos which act like a magnet to fluids," says Tom van der Gucht. "I'm not sure if they're made from the same fibres used to produce "Plenty" kitchen roll, but even the tiniest splash (whether is comes from visiting the toilet or the sink) is absorbed before spreading out and becoming unmissable for the naked eye. I've taken to always splashing myself when washing my hands so people think I'm a clumsy user of sinks, as a means of adding verisimilitude to my claims on the occasions that I do inadvertently splash myself...."

117th over: England 314-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 161, Prior 65) Cook is beaten by a peach from Ashwin. This is starting to look a bit ominous for England, who need to maintain their concentration for another 45 minutes.

"I take your Richard Blakey and raise you Warren Hegg," says Luke Dealtry. Harsh. Hegg's average was higher than Blakey's total runs scored.

"It never rains but it pours eh?" chirps chirpiness's Ryan Dunne. "My advice would be to hop over to the fashion desk. Surely they must get sent items from up-and-comers to review? I'm sure you'd be able to find a diamante encrusted leather sarong or the like, and fashion together a Nathan Barley-type outfit? If you get any askance looks then surely 'I work in media' will suffice in explanation. Alternatively, couldn't you just microwave the wet trousers in the staff canteen for a couple of minutes, dry them out? I think Kramer did a similar trick with a pizza oven in Seinfeld once."

119th over: England 316-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 162, Prior 66) England have scored just 10 runs from the last eight overs. They've gone into their bunker a little, although that is understandable towards the end of a long, draining day. There are 40 minutes remaining.

"Does this partnership show England do have a chance of winning the series?" says Jatinder Sahtoa. "Everyone points to their record in India and the subcontinent as an indication that they should lose but this Indian batting line up is the weakest in around 25 years. Also the bowling attack is the weakest in about the same period – with none of the spinners holding a candle to Kumble. England may have lost to Pakistan but Ajmal is in a different class to the Indian spinners. Also Sri Lanka have a better batting line than India but England still managed to draw. If England drop Bresnan and Broad for Monty and Finn they have a great chance as the batsmen now know they can play on these pitches regardless of the outcome of this match." Well, two or three of the batsmen know they can play on these pitches. I'm not sure about the rest.

120th over: England 322-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 163, Prior 71) I'm surprised MS Dhoni hasn't turned to Yadav. The ball is 40 overs now and may well reverse; it would also change the tempo of the game. Ojha drops short and is cut brilliantly for four by Prior. The placement was outstanding there.

121st over: England 325-5 (need 330 to make India bat again; Cook 164, Prior 73) "My man love for Cook has just exceeded all previous limits – the man is incredible," says John Bowker. "What is particularly amazing is how often he scores big runs in difficult circumstances – this year alone he has centuries in Abu Dhabi and against South Africa at the Oval. Compare this to Bell, who cashed in against the West Indies but has no other significant scores. Trott is also a serious worry. He scored a century in Galle but that is his only one of the year, and that after just one in 2011."

122nd over: England 334-5 (trailed by 330 on first innings; Cook 165, Prior 81) Ojha tosses one up to Prior, who clouts it wide of the cover sweeper for four. That is a wonderful stroke. Later in the over he makes room to slice four more to third man – and those runs take England into the lead. This is seriously good batting. I don't know about you but I'm openly, unashamedly in love with Matt Prior. Even his press conference yesterday was wonderful. (Well, the bits we saw on TV were.) He's a class act.

It's that sly old son of a gun againHe keeps telling me that I'm the lucky one againBut I still have that rain still have those tearsAnd those rocks in my heart.

124th over: England 335-5 (trailed by 330 on first innings; Cook 166, Prior 81) A maiden from Ojha to the becalmed Cook, who is definitely playing for the close. "I know you will call me mad – people always have, for a variety of reasons – but you do realise this match is India's Adelaide 2006-07?" says Steve Hudson. No it isn't. Hope this helps!

125th over: England 337-5 (trailed by 330 on first innings; Cook 167, Prior 82) Zaheer Khan is back into the attack, a good move from MS Dhoni. There's no reverse though, and a couple of singles from the over. There are fifteen mildly terrifying minutes left in the day's play.

126th over: England 339-5 (trailed by 330 on first innings; Cook 168, Prior 83) Umesh Yadav (18-1-58-2) comes on for Pragyan Ojha (43-12-102-2). He will only have time for a couple of overs before the close. There's a hint of reverse swing back into Prior, who gets an inside edge onto the pad and drags another delivery into the leg side. Ten minutes to go.

"Whoever chose that photo of the captain at the top of the OBO did agreat job by the way," says Sean Boiling. "It's the eyes." I'll take credit for that! Okay it had absolutely nothing to do with me but since when did that matter.

127th over: England 340-5 (trailed by 330 on first innings; Cook 168, Prior 84) Prior has taken most of the strike in the last 15 minutes, playing almost as a nightwatchman. He is such a team player that it might be a deliberate approach in view of Cook's understandable fatigue. Zaheer's over passes without incident; we should have time for just one more from Yadav. None of this please!

128th over: England 340-5 (lead by 10 runs; Cook 168, Prior 84) In fact it's going to Ojha to bowl the final over of the day. Prior defends watchfully to complete an outstanding, wicketless session for England. Alastair Cook smiles wearily as he walks off; he has batted for 501 minutes, 341 balls and 168 runs. You wouldn't believe how good an innings this has been. He must be immensely proud of his performance, as should the ever wonderful Matt Prior. This pair have added 141 in 51 overs to take the game to a fifth day. Rarely will so many Englishmen be happy to hear a 3.55am alarm call on a Monday morning. England should still lose this game; if they don't, however, we'll be talking about Ahmedabad 2012 for decades. See you tomorrow.